Testing radiation after immunotherapy stops working in liver cancer

Trial details

Who runs it

Radboud University Medical Center

Trial code

NCT07895342

Record updated

26 October 2026

Original description

Each year, approximately 1,000 patients in the Netherlands are diagnosed with liver cancer. When liver cancer can no longer be treated with surgery or thermal ablation, cure is no longer possible. In recent years, immunotherapy has become increasingly important in the treatment of liver cancer. Unfortunately, the combination of immunotherapy (atezolizumab) and an anti-angiogenic agent (bevacizumab) results in a durable response in only 15-20% of patients. The aim of this study is to identify a strategy to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, enabling the patient's immune system to better recognize and attack the cancer.Read full original descriptionShow less

Post-immunotherapy External Beam Radiotherapy or Radioembolization to Overcome Immune Checkpoint Blockade Resistance in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Each year, approximately 1,000 patients in the Netherlands are diagnosed with liver cancer. When liver cancer can no longer be treated with surgery or thermal ablation, cure is no longer possible. In recent years, immunotherapy has become increasingly important in the treatment of liver cancer. Unfortunately, the combination of immunotherapy (atezolizumab) and an anti-angiogenic agent (bevacizumab) results in a durable response in only 15-20% of patients. The aim of this study is to identify a strategy to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, enabling the patient's immune system to better recognize and attack the cancer.

Two recent clinical observations suggested that the immune system may be activated by external radiotherapy or radioembolization. Following these treatments, both patients unexpectedly showed regression of multiple non-irradiated liver metastases. One of these patients had initially experienced disease progression during immunotherapy, but after radiotherapy subsequently demonstrated regression of all metastatic lesions. In this clinical study (16 patients in total), we will investigate whether the immune system can be reactivated after failure of immunotherapy.

Patients will be eligible for participation after disease progression during immunotherapy for liver cancer. In Group A, eight patients will receive three fractions of external radiotherapy directed at the most dominant liver lesion or an extrahepatic metastasis. In Group B, eight patients will receive radioembolization of the most dominant liver lesion. There will be no randomization. Group A will be enrolled first, and Group B will open only after completion of enrollment in Group A.

The primary outcome measure is the number of patients in each group who achieve disease control at 6 months, defined as stable disease or tumor regression lasting for at least 6 months. During the study, participating patients will undergo extensive blood analyses, tumor biopsies of both treated and untreated lesions, and multiple CT scans.

Through these investigations, we aim to characterize the tumor microenvironment in detail, evaluate the role of different immune cell populations, and gain a better understanding of why these treatments administered after immunotherapy failure may still be capable of reactivating the immune system.

Inclusion: Adult individuals at least 18 years old; Unresectable multifocal or metastatic HCC, as determined by the multidisciplinary tumor board; Subject has histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable multifocal or metastatic HCC (all other histological types are excluded); Child-Pugh (CP) class A (well-compensated disease) or B ≤ 7 (acceptable functional compromise); Progressive HCC after failure of first-line atezolizumab-based systemic therapy; Life expectancy ≥12 weeks per investigator assessment; At least one non-targeted measurable lesion per RECIST version 1.1 (the irradiated/targeted lesion in both cohorts will not be considered as measurable); Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1; Agree to undergo multiple tumor biopsies, CT imaging, and blood withdrawals; Adequate baseline laboratory results (defined as a hemoglobin ≥5.0 mmol/l, an absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5 x 109/l, platelet count ≥75 x 109/l, creatinine clearance ≥30 ml/min, bil-irubin <3x ULN and liver transaminases ALT and AST <5x ULN); Allowance of temporary cessation of anticoagulants (no bridge therapy); Subjects must voluntarily sign and date the informed consent forms; Informed consent must be signed prior to any single study-related activity.

Exclusion: Subjects who have received palliative radiation therapy after disease progression upon first-line treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (note: prior palliative radiation therapy before or during treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab is allowed, provid-ed the final dose was administered ≥6 weeks before enrollment); Subjects who have received holmium-166 or yttrium-90 TARE after disease progression up-on first-line treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (note: prior TARE before treat-ment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab is allowed); Previous surgical hepatico-enterostomy; Requirement for immunosuppressive doses of systemic corticosteroids (>10 mg/day prednisone equivalents) or other systemic immunosuppressive medication; History of other malignancies within 3 years prior to screening, except for malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., 5-year OS rate > 90%); Evidence of bleeding diathesis or clinically significant coagulopathy; A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:; Large arterio-portal venous shunting per investigator assessment; Lung shunt fraction >10%; The presence of significant ascites; Pregnancy or inadequate anticonception.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07895342